Glossary

A

A	Kanji	Mean
Ashi	足	ASHI is a kanji character that means “foot” when written as a single character. However, the character “足” written on the Kan’ei Tsuho coin is a mint mark representing the name of the Ashio Copper Mine where the coin was minted.

B

B	Kanji	Mean

C

C	Kanji	Mean

D

D	Kanji	Mean

E

E	Kanji	Mean
Ei	永	Kanji used in Kan’ei Tsūhō coins, etc.

F

F	Kanji	Mean

G

G	Kanji	Mean
Gaikei	外径	The “外径” is the diameter of the coin.

H

H	Kanji	Mean
Haibun	背文	The term “背文” refers to the “文” on the reverse side of the Kan’ei Tsuuho.
Haisen	背仙	Kan’ei Tsūhō coins with the character “仙” on the reverse side.
Heisei	平成	This is aJapanese era name.1989-2019
Ho,Hou	寶,宝	Kanji used in Kan’ei Tsūhō coins, etc. It means “treasure.” It is mainly used in relation to money.

I

I		Mean

J

J	Kanji	Mean
Jōwa	承和	Jōwa era.An era name from the Heian period. It spanned the years 834 to 848 AD.
Jyuki-tsu	重揮通	One type of “通” character.A type found in the Sendai Ishinomaki coins of the Kan’ei Tsūhō series.

K

K	Kanji	Mean
Kaku	郭	The “郭” is the raised area around the hole in the center of the coin.
Kan	寛	Kanji used in Kan’ei Tsūhō coins, etc.
Kanei	寛永	Kan’ei era (1624-1644). Kan’ei is the original name of Japan’s Edo period
Kan’ei Tsuuho	寛永通宝	寛(kan) 永(ei) 通(tsu) 寶(ho) The name 寛永“Kan’ei” comes from the fact that it was first cast during the Kan’ei era (1624-1644). 通宝(tsu ho) means “world-class treasure” and refers to coins that are widely circulated in general circulation. ⇒Shin(New)-Kanei Sen
Koto-tsu	コ頭通	One type of character in “通.” It contains the character “コ.”
Kocho Junisen	皇朝十二銭	“twelve coinages minted in Japan during the Nara and Heian periods” ⇒Japanese Old Coin Page

L

L	Kanji	Mean

M

M	Kanji	Mean
Meiji	明治	This is aJapanese era name.1868-1912
Muhai	無背	The Kan’ei Tsūhō coins with no characters on the reverse side.

N

N	Kanji	Mean
Naikei	内径	The “内径” is the inner diameter of the coin.

O

O	Kanji	Mean

P

P	Kanji	Mean

Q

Q	Kanji	Mean

R

R	Kanji	Mean
Reiwa	令和	2019-
Rin	輪	The “輪” is the outer ring-shaped portion of the coin.

S

S	Kanji	Mean
Sen	穿	The “穿” is the hole in the center of the coin.
Sen	銭	Kanji characters meaning “Coin”. Example: Tenpo sen(天保　銭),〇〇sen
Showa	昭和	This is aJapanese era name.1926-1989

T

T	Kanji	Mean
Taishou,Taisho	大正	This is aJapanese era name.1912-1926
Tsu	通	Kanji used in Kan’ei Tsūhō coins, etc.
Tsuho	通宝	通宝(tsu ho) means “world-class treasure” and refers to coins that are widely circulated in general circulation.

U

U	Kanji	Mean

V

V	Kanji	Mean

W

W	Kanji	Mean

X

X	Kanji	Mean

Y

Y	Kanji	Mean

Z

Z	Kanji	Mean